I’m a Real Estate Agent: 5 House Items Buyers Almost Always Regret
Written by
Vance Cariaga
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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The typical American homebuyer spends more than $410,000 for a house in the United States, so the last thing they want is to make home-related purchases they later regret. But it still happens — a lot.
In many cases, these purchases involve a lot of money. This can be a painful (and expensive) mistake if you spend years being reminded of it every day, or if it ends up reducing the value of your home.
Here are five house items that homebuyers almost always regret, according to a real estate agent.
1. Trendy Colors and Decor
One of the most common regrets is spending money on “the latest trendy thing” when it comes time to decorate the house, said Cappy Hagman, a Realtor and broker at Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston in Raleigh, North Carolina.
“Typically this is a color thing, like gray,” Hagman told GOBankingRates. “Gray was super-hot and people put it everywhere — including really expensive-to-replace items like cabinets and flooring.”
The problem is, not everyone likes gray. If you drown your house in trendy colors or decorative touches, you’ll end up turning off potential buyers when the trends fade away.
“If need to have that trendy thing, do it in relatively inexpensive, easier-to-replace things like paint and decorating touches,” Hagman said. “When the trend rolls on down the road — and it will — you won’t wake up one day hating that your house looks like a mausoleum and you don’t have $40,000 to fix it.”
2. Expensive Outdoor Entertaining Areas
These include everything from pools and outdoor kitchens to theaters.
“They are very expensive to maintain and most people don’t end up getting the use out of them that they thought they would,” Hagman said. “On resale, especially with pools, very few people get back what they put into them and they can hurt an appraisal … Most people are better served with a good firepit and the TV in the den.”
3. Cheap Carpet Pads
Many homebuyers go “all in” for a carpet only to buy a cheap, eight-pound pound pad that “wrecks the life of the carpet,” Hagman said.
She recommended buying the most expensive pad you can afford. Not only will this extend the life of the carpet, but it also “feels great” to walk on.
4. All-Glass Shower Surrounds
This type of shower might be elegant to look at when it’s brand new, but it’s also “ridiculously hard to keep clean,” according to Hagman.
“Soap scum and water streaks just ruin that vibe,” she said. “It’s also surprising to find out how much you actually enjoy having some privacy.”
Another problem is that all-glass shower surrounds can be dangerous.
“I’ve had several clients slip, fall and come crashing out of the doors,” Hagman said. “Half-tile walls are [safer and] more practical.”
5. Pot Fillers
These are typically installed in the wall above the stove and allow you to pour water directly into pots without having to carry them from the sink.
“People think it’s a great idea to add one but they are expensive and can cause huge damage to your wall if they aren’t installed correctly,” Hagman said. “Unless you’re filling a 10-quart stock pot every single day they are a waste of money.”
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